Sutton Coldfield residents and patients at Good Hope Hospital have launched a petition to save its services.

Last month it was revealed all general, trauma and orthopaedic surgery could be moved to Solihull and Heartlands hospitals under new proposals by NHS Trust bosses.

Members of the Campaign To Save Services At Good Hope Hospital have now launched a protest petition and have also posted hundreds of local flyers.

Spokesman Krys Deegan said: “We are a group of local people, independent of any political party, who use and care very much about our hospital, Good Hope.

“We want to see a public meeting with the Trust bosses, where people from all areas affected can attend and have their say before any decisions are made. We are also saying no to any closures of services at the hospital.”

Rob Pocock, councillor for Sutton Vesey, said: “Good Hope is a very important local facility, not only for the people of Sutton Coldfield, but for all of North Birmingham, Staffordshire and Lichfield.

"It is a well respected and well used important service, and local people are nervous about the situation.

“They are worried that there’s something more serious behind it, and is a part of a bigger agenda.

The Heart of England NHS Trust says it will be consulting with the public in the new year.

But Coun Pocock said that people were concerned it would be too late to make a difference by the time the public are consulted by the Trust.

He added: “I think people want to see the Trust involving the public generally right from the design process, rather than being presented with a couple of options at a later date of how services might change.

“If the changes are better and safer for patients then I would support that. But clearly the local community want to see their services stay local to them.”

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “Our clinicians have been working on a number of options to improve services and outcomes for patients.

“We will be sharing these ideas with local residents, patients and GPs in the new year and asking them for their feedback.

"We are totally committed to building a sustainable future for surgery across our hospitals to deliver the safest and best care possible to our patients.”